Season 9's "The Last Crusade" did sound very promising, and also started very promisingly. The concept was great and it was a synopsis that did immediately connect with me personally on an emotional level, as someone who had to undergo a similar conflict regarding a major change a year or so ago and remembering how hard it was. Was also really excited about seeing some character development to Scootaloo and to finally learn more about her family.
"The Last Crusade" was a bit of a tricky one in regard to knowing what to make of it. There are a lot of admirable qualities about it and a lot is done right, but it really did have potential of towards being one of Season 9's better and more relatable episodes considering the concept. And it doesn't quite make it, to me "The Last Crusade" could have delved deeper into the situation, it had real potential to be more poignant than it was and the moral doesn't really come off well.
A lot in "The Last Crusade" is done very well. Had very few faults with the animation throughout 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic's' run, except for some instances of not so great character animation, and it's no exception here. There is a lot of vibrant colour throughout that is never drab or garish, while the backgrounds shows a lot of meticulousness and rich detail without being static or cluttered. The character designs were more great than patchy, and the amount of polish increased with each season. The music is alive with energy and nuance, with a wide dynamic range that never sounded discordant with anything. The voice acting is fine too, with Madeleine Peters being excellent as Scootaloo.
Really liked the genuinely funny humour, which is a mix of sharp and gentle and the episode is hardly short changed in it. The Cutie Mark Crusaders as ever have great chemistry and one can see how much they care for each other and how great they are as friends, character personality-wise they have come on a lot. Scootaloo's character development was appreciated and it really progressed her character, it was insightful with revealing things not known before and she was very easy to relate to with her anger and upset more than understandable (would have reacted the same way). Especially those who have been there and find facing change hard, am one of those people yet in my care my parents were a lot more understanding and considerate. Some interesting new characters too.
New characters though that left me a bit mixed. The aunts are benevolent and firm characters and their idea was a great one that contributed heavily towards the outcome. The parents were more mixed, it was great to see them being introduced and help progress Scootaloo's character but part of me really disliked their thoughtfulness and lack of understanding but my feelings on them changed when it was revealed that there was more to their reasoning than what it first appeared to be and it made them less bad. There could have been more depth here, it does have poignant moments like Scootaloo's anger and upset, but there could have been more exploration on why Scootaloo can be tight and clingy.
Do agree with the criticism of the moral. Not the moral itself on paper, but it was the way it was executed with it feeling like there was a different moral to what was originally intended. It was a real missed opportunity of exploring how change can be dealt with, but went down the forced, heavy handed and too simplistic route instead. It was too much of a sudden change of heart in what was already a too neat and fairly predictable ending, and 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' usually deals with its morals a lot more maturely than what is seen here.
Overall, another episode of Season 9 that conflicted me. 6/10.
